Those 30 years included 353 fires, many of which were never attributed to Sweatt until he identified them as his work. Perhaps that's because, Sweatt, a Southeast resident, was a civic-minded man who kept to himself. But Washington City Paper's Dave Jamieson embarked on an award-winning correspondence that lasted over a year to find out just what drives the mind of an arsonist. After the jump, read an excerpt from the 2007 story.

For Sweatt, different fires grew out of different feelings—many out of a sense of powerlessness, others out of spite, some even out of love—but more than anything else, his decades-long rampage was about sexual fantasy:

Why did I set the fires when I set them? That’s an all too familiar question that can not be understood if you don’t know the story. There were different reasons for most of the fires. It could be because of one feeling the need to have power about something or someone….I don’t want you driving that car so the fire becomes a weapon to destroy it. Or in case of some house fires—I might like a particular style of a house and wish one day to own it (but it’s only a dream). Fire is a tool to destroy and some house fires also becomes my phantasy of people scrambling to exit windows and sort-of feel like they need my help so I stay and watch. Then I’d masterbate over the fire while driving away from the schene.

Sweatt was finally apprehended after an investigation that lasted nearly two years and substantial manpower. He is now serving a double life sentence in a federal prison Terre Haute, Ind.

Adios, Plácido: Local opera company seeks new artistic director and general director. Tenor singing voice, fluency in Spanish a plus; must not enjoy long walks on the beach, at least not if the beach is in Los Angeles. For that's where Plácido Domingo has fled Washington National Opera for, after 14 years in D.C., the last several split with the Los Angeles Opera. Domingo extended his contract in L.A. for another two years, and told WNO he wasn't coming back. Just like a diva. -2

Automobile Arson Association: A month after cars are torched under strange circumstances along 16th Street, authorities finally admit what everyone else had already realized—something weird is going on. Police and fire officials are investigating who has set fire to at least five cars near Columbia Heights and Mt. Pleasant in the last few weeks, mostly late at night. Tip for anyone planning to buy a new car soon: Decline the undercoating, but do take the dealer up if they offer fireproofing. -2

Trains Run On Time: The Red Line's Union Station tops the list of busiest Metro stations, with more than 32,000 on an average weekday. Friendship Heights, with fewer than 10,000 riders, comes in last. Apparently Ted's Montana Grill is a bigger draw than Neiman Marcus. Also, apparently people who live in Chevy Chase aren't real big on public transit. Raise your hand if this surprises you. -1

More Weather Nonsense: Why not add a tropical storm to the list of absurd extreme weather phenomena we've suffered through this year? Tropical Depression 16, soon to be named Tropical Storm Nicole, is expected to pass through the D.C. region on Thursday, bringing along heavy rains, strong winds, and a renewed sense that someone out there—either God, or at the Weather Channel—really doesn't like the District much. On the plus side, Metro announced that SmarTrip cards will be accepted to board arks. -3

Yesterday's Needle rating: 54 Today's score: -8 Today's Needle rating: 46

Two years after the fact, Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells has gone on the record suspecting that the Eastern Market fire was arson. Wells tells the Voice of the Hill:

"'I have a tremendous amount of suspicion that it was arson,' Wells told the Voice immediately after the market reopened Friday."

Eastern Market re-opened today with the expected fanfare. Which is great. But it doesn't erase the screw-ups surrounding that massive blaze. In December 2007, we wrote a piece addressing the concerns of numerous fire fighters that the Eastern Market case was arson. Two arson investigators got bounced off their beat for making their concerns known.

It will be interesting to see what Wells does after all the celebrations this weekend. If he truly suspects foul play, what will he do about it? Will he fight for the jobs of those arson investigators? Will he hold a hearing on the fire? Will he question Fire Chief Dennis Rubin who insisted on an electrical cause for so long?

In conjunction with the investigation into the murder of Michael and Virginia Spevak, ABC 7 reports that D.C. Police discovered a safe and computer during yesterday's search of the backyard and alley behind 622 Ingraham St. NW.

A neighbor also found a charred ID belonging to Dr. Spevak in the alley.

Inspector Rodney Parks, addressing the press yesterday at the scene of the investigation, refused to confirm or deny the discovery of a computer. "Items were taken," he told us, "and burglary appears to be the motive. But we haven’t ruled out anything else."

NBC is also reporting the discovery of a safe.

Photograph above: D.C. Police package evidence in the Ingraham alley on 11/24/08